Make Your Own NON Dead-Blow Hammer!

A Dead-Blow Hammer is a hammer that doesn't bounce back up when hit, and less force is required when using it, because of it's weight. This type of hammer also saves a lot of time and effort, when compared to a regular mallet (soft hammer).

Did you know you can make, and choose the exact weight that you want for your Dead-Blow Hammer with an old transformer?

In my last Instructable, I showed you how to make The Flat-Pack Bandsaw. Today, I'll show you how to make a Dead-Blow Hammer, made from almost entirely recycled and junk materials!

Let's get started!

(Warning: Use this Instructables' content at your own risk. If you decide to eat this hammer, do it at your own risk!)

Step 1: What You'll Need:

Hardware & Materials:

~1KG Transformer (From an old retractable bed)

2 Zip-Ties

Some soft Wood (From an old shipping crate)

16mm (Diameter) Metal Rod (From an old IKEA Lamp)

Chemicals & Adhesives:

Gorilla Tape

Tools (+Attachments):

Knife/Scissors

Pen

3mm Drill-Bit

2 Clamps

Electric/Power Tools:

Drill

Circular Saw

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Why: Because I don't have a Hydraulic Press! Ummm, No... :)

Recommended Safety Equipment: Earmuffs, Respirator, Safety Goggles,

Cost (for me): FREE!

Difficulty: Easy

Approximate Time: ~30 Minutes

Step 2: Cut the Wires Off of the Transformer

After choosing the transformer I wanted, I used a wire cutter to cut off the wires.

Step 3: Enlarge the Holes in the Transformer

I used a 3mm Drill-Bit to enlarge the holes that were in the transformer. I did this so the Zip-Ties would be able to fit in them (Next step).

If your transformer doesn't have these holes, I might be able to help you in the comment section :)

Step 4: Attach the Handle to the Transformer

I started by folding a small piece of Gorilla Tape, so it would act as double sided tape (And as a cushion between the transformer and the handle). After that, I Zip-Tied the handle tightly to the transformer.

Step 5: More Gorilla Tape!

I added a bit more tape to the top, even though it isn't really needed. It strengthens the connection a bit more, and makes it look better.

I can definitely tell you that this handle isn't going anywhere.

Step 6: Cut the Wooden Pad (cushion)

I decided that I want to add a small piece of wood, which acts as a cushion to both the object that is being hit, and the transformer.

I started by tracing the outline of the bottom of the transformer onto a piece of soft wood that I had previously clamped to the table, And then cut it out with my new horrible circular saw. It was a bit hard to saw off one part, so I plunged the saw, and then removed it by hitting it with the hammer.

Step 7: Glue the Wooden Pad Onto the Hammer

I thought I'd try hot glue as an adhesive for gluing the pad to the bottom of the transformer, and indeed, it (still!) hasn't failed!

I scratched the wood a bit, applied a generous amount of glue to one side of the pad, and clamped it as quickly as I could.

After the glue hardened, I applied more glue to the sides (the gaps)

Step 8: DONE! Dead-Blow Hammer VS. Computer Mouse

Ok, this was just for fun... :)

I wanted to test how strong this hammer was, even without applying a lot of force.

What you can see in the pictures is the before shot, and after (and after collecting all of the pieces that flew everywhere) smashing it to pieces.

Yes, it did that with one hit!

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DONE!

As always, thank you so much for voting!

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Comments

[IAmADragonite]

This isn't a dead blow hammer. It is just a transformer tied to a handle.

[FelisC]

Now put the wires back on, add some batteries, and make it a SHOCK BLOW HAMMER!

[Yonatan24]

Genius! ;)

[DavidA450]

so what I'm seeing from the comments is this is just plain not what it is advertised in the instructable. This either needs to be changed to reflect the fact that it ISN'T a dead-blow hammer or just plain deleted for inaccuracy.

[Yonatan24]

That's what's weird here too. What I see in the comments of the Instructable isn't what I see with the tool...

90% of the time, I barely add any force when I hit something with the hammer, so I think that's why it doesn't jump back up (Or maybe barely does). If I tried to break a wall with it... I think I would buy an expensive one for Pro's... :)

[DavidA450]

The problem is you can't go around saying things you think, and not take responsibility. You need to know what a Dead-Blow Hammer is before you say something you made IS one. If you say something, and it's wrong, you need to fix it, not just shrug your shoulders.

The only thing that really bothers me, is this instructable was featured on the instructable email, showing they probably do not read any of the instructables that they decide to just randomly throw on the front of the email.

[Yonatan24]

Okay...

Speaking of deleted, did you see this Instructable? It was featured in the same newsletter as this Instructable. That's totally fake.

What I built here, might not be totally accurate, but I did build it, and it works REALLY well.

(And they don't randomly put Instructables there. The staff that makes the newsletter doesn't happen to know everything, in every possible subject.)

[hamthis]

agreed

[Draculorum]

That hammer was delicious and yes, I acknowledge that I chose to consume it freely and the author in no way responsible or liable for my actions.

[Yonatan24]

I just want to make sure that your dietitian will help you close weight after eating it, not me!

[hamthis]

This is not a Dead Blow Hammer.

I dead blow hammer has a void in it that has a movable mass typically made of sand. When hitting it does not bounce back up.

This is just a sledge hammer with wood on the front.

[Yonatan24]

I now know that...

[FirstSpear]

Never heard of a dead-blow hammer. If such exists in the UK then it's managed to avoid me for over 50+ years. I understand the concept having read the comments. Learn something new every day. Even if this isn't, it's still true to the original spirit of Instructables, which, for me, has become too specialist of late, and I now find I often don't read any of the picks. I read this one. Cheers yonatan24.

[actimm]

A dead-blow hammer is a hammer or mallet with a medium such as sand or bismuth that moves freely inside of it to reduce or eliminate the recoil that is felt when the head strikes a hard object. In the old days they used to use powdered lead or lead shot, but environmental concerns forced the switch to sand or bismuth. I have both dead-blow hammers and dead-blow mallets here in the machine shop I work in. Basically they make the hammer strike about twice as effective because it doesn't rebound like a regular hammer would. What the author basically did is make a soft face mallet with a transformer as the weight and pine or cedar as the "soft face" material.

[Yonatan24]

Someone commented about one in my Hot-Glue Mallet Instructable. That's how I learned about it :)

[WiggleOne]

Really good Instructable, but that thing would fly apart and hurt someone.

I have a Harbor Freight Tools a half mile from my house and a small dead blow mallet is $2.00 with a coupon.

[Yonatan24]

I doubt that'll happen, but I'll be careful. If there was HF near my house, I'd... Wait... I don't have that store near my house :(

The cheapest one that I found at a hardware store costed over $10.

[uncle frogy]

that is a nice one time use hammer cheap and quick to make but not built for strength or long use. It reminds me of the soft blow hammers plumbers used when working on cast iron drain pipe. they were a piece of black pipe for a handle and the working end was a beer can filled with lead. they would put a fitting on the pipe push it into a can and fill the whole thing with molten lead. lasted long enough and could be reformed when it became too deformed in use and it did not break the cast iron pipe.

uncle frogy

[Yonatan24]

One time use? I've used it dozens of times already-- Probably over 300 times, with a lot of power.

[ShawnS60]

This dead-blow hammer seems like great fun, both to make, and to use to smash an old computer mouse.

Can you recommend an additional use for such a hammer? I can imagine...striking a Test-of-Strength at a circus midway, or crushing the computer mouse--wait, you already used that example. So, one thing I could use it for. What are additional uses that I, Average Joe, may encounter during my life?
Thank you! Again, this looks great fun!